The official website of the Royal Shakespeare Company RSC OthelloDirected by Terry Hands, Designed by Ralph Koltai
Royal Shakespeare Company Theater
Opening Date: 24 September 1985
Theatre: Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford
Theatre Company: Royal Shakespeare Company
Cast List Penny Ryder- Bianca Joseph O'Conor-Brabantio Tom Mannion-Cassio Arnold Yarrow-Clown Niamh Cusack-Desdemona Trevor Martin-Duke of Venice Janet Dale-Emilia Paul Webster-Gratiano David Suchet-Iago Roger Llewellyn-Lodovico Richard Conway-Messenger/Herald Brian Horstead-Montano Ben Kingsley-Othello Gerald Logan-Roderigo
Comparison: The Royal Shakespeare Company’s 1985 production of Othello is “brisk and intelligent, but perhaps a bit under cast in places.” (Nightingale) However, Iago and Othello are brilliantly played by David Suchet and Ben Kingsley. Their performances are filled with rage and grief. The superior acting by the characters enhances the drama adds more feeling to the play. Even the background adds to the experience. The plain black backdrop forces the audience to focus on the actors and the story. The only criticism is that Nightingale sees Kingsley as playing an Othello who seems “motivated too much by wounded pride, too little by a broken heart.” Some would even say that he is overacting at times. While there are flaws with the play, the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production adds to the magnificent story of Othello that has been perfected through the ages.
The official website of the Royal Shakespeare Company RSC OthelloDirected by Terry Hands, Designed by Ralph Koltai
Cast List
Penny Ryder- Bianca
Joseph O'Conor-Brabantio
Tom Mannion-Cassio
Arnold Yarrow-Clown
Niamh Cusack-Desdemona
Trevor Martin-Duke of Venice
Janet Dale-Emilia
Paul Webster-Gratiano
David Suchet-Iago
Roger Llewellyn-Lodovico
Richard Conway-Messenger/Herald
Brian Horstead-Montano
Ben Kingsley-Othello
Gerald Logan-Roderigo
Production Review: New York Times
Comparison:
The Royal Shakespeare Company’s 1985 production of Othello is “brisk and intelligent, but perhaps a bit under cast in places.” (Nightingale) However, Iago and Othello are brilliantly played by David Suchet and Ben Kingsley. Their performances are filled with rage and grief. The superior acting by the characters enhances the drama adds more feeling to the play. Even the background adds to the experience. The plain black backdrop forces the audience to focus on the actors and the story. The only criticism is that Nightingale sees Kingsley as playing an Othello who seems “motivated too much by wounded pride, too little by a broken heart.” Some would even say that he is overacting at times. While there are flaws with the play, the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production adds to the magnificent story of Othello that has been perfected through the ages.
Works Cited:
Nightingale, Bendedict. "Times Theater Review." STAGE VIEW; BEN KINGSLEY PUTS 'GANDHI' BEHIND HIM. 26 Jan. 1986. New York Times. 15 Dec. 2008 <http://theater2.nytimes.com/mem/theater/treview.html?res=9a0deed9123ff935a15752c0a960948260>.
Bate, Jonathan, ed. "Othello." Royal Shakespeare Company: Othello. Royal Shakespeare Company. 15 Dec. 2008
http://www.rsc.org.uk/content/3118.aspx.
"Hands/Koltai, Royal Shakespeare Company." Othello. 2003. Arts and Humanities Data Service. 15 Dec. 2008 http://ahds.ac.uk/ahdscollections/docroot/shakespeare/performancedetails.do?performanceid=11768.